Polglase calls for brothel ban

FORMER Tweed mayor Warren Polglase, who fought fiercely against a proposed super brothel at Tweed Heads South during his time in the top job, has called on state politicians to reveal where they stand on banning brothels.

The issue has been thrown into the headlines again with the NSW Local Government Association conference in Albury set to debate a motion from The Hills Shire Council in Sydney asking the state government to amend planning rules so councils with “strong community and family values” can ban brothels.

Last week another Sydney council, Parramatta, became the first council in NSW to openly defy the NSW Government’s planning rules by voting against a brothel after hearing plans included a “panic room” where prostitutes could take refuge from violent clients.

Tweed council faces an upcoming battle in the NSW Land and Environment Court against its decision earlier this year to refuse approval of the 24-hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week super brothel in Tweed Heads South.

Cr Polglase said he believed that court hearing was still subject to confidential negotiations between lawyers for the council and the applicant.

He said the need for a “panic room” in the proposed Parramatta brothel destroyed the argument that legalising brothels allowed them to be “serene places”.

“It blows their argument out of the water,” he added.

“I think our state members should come clean on where they stand and not have a bet each way.

“Some would argue brothels would go underground. Half of them are underground anyway.

“Maybe if they were underground there would be less of them.”

Cr Polglase said he believed those councillors who had supported the Tweed Heads South brothel application “were doing so because the law allows them in certain areas”.

Although the issue is before the Local Government Association conference, Tweed council won’t be voting as it is a member of the NSW Shires Association.